Machine for topping trousers



Nov. 15, 1955 E. M. MOORE 2,723,735

MACHINE FOR TOPPING TROUSERS Filed Dec. 9, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 2.

INVENTOR.

ELTON M. MOORE FIG.|. BY w ATTORNEY Nov. 15, 1955 E. M. MOORE MACHINE FOR TOPPING TROUSERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 11111111. I IIIIL I 11111. I 111n I 111114 I r1111, I 11111. I 11111. I r1111, I 11111, I 1111114 INVENTOR.

ELTON M MOORE ATTORNEY Nov. 15, 1955 E. M. MOORE 2,723,785

MACHINE FOR TOPPING TROUSERS Filed Dec. 9, 1953 3 Shets-Sheet 3 J V IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII W O 0 o 0; 3 I O :o 3 I T o o D 1 1 T O q 0 0 i 55 a o o I o o=l o o o o a j 0 o o 0 o o o o a 0 Que o o o o o o D O O O OII.O o o o o 0' a o o o o o l 1 o o o o a o o o o I o \J q o o o i! o o o o I INVENTOR.

ELTON M. MOORE ATTORNEY United States Patent MACHINE FOR TOPPING TROUSERS Elton M. Moore, Bartlesville, Gkla.

Application December 9, 1953, Serial No. 397,165

9 Claims. (Cl. 223-73) The present invention relates to improvements in apparel pressing machines known in the art as apparatus for topping trousers.

In the finishing of the tops of trousers, the object is to restore the appearance of the trousers to that which they had when they were new.

The old method of pressing the upper part of a pair of trousers employed a flat platen presser of the type which forms the creases in the leg portions of the trousers. With this type of presser, a number of separate operations is required to press the upper part of the garment.

By the use of the old method or platen type presstopper, the trousers are pressed, not finished, and wrinkles and seams in the pockets and linings cause shine or marks on the trousers. The several layers of material, buttons and zippers, used in the construction of the fiy or closure of the trousers are also shined or marked by the old method. These shine marks are objectionable in doing quality finishing and the method used is much slower than finishing trouser tops on this new improved steam-air type pant topper.

The object of the present invention is to provide a means of finishing, not pressing, the tops of trousers without any shine marks, pocket impressions, fly impressions, etc., and to do this better quality work at a much faster rate of production. The apparatus supports the top portion of the trousers on an expansible form of the general contour of the trouser top, steam is applied thereto to condition the material and then a blast of hot air is given to extend the trouser top to its proper shape and dry and set it with a natural, new appearance. The supporting members of the mechanism are perforated to permit the penetration of the steam and air to all parts of the trouser top.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a pants topper of improved construction having numerous advantages over present day machines.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a machine of relatively simple construction but highly efficient in operation, which will facilitate a high rate of production, minimize handling of the garment, realize greater speed, economy, and produce quality finishing.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the apparatus employing the present invention with certain parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a top plan view taken on line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial detail of the pressing apparatus.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view of the bag with parts broken away.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters denote similar parts throughout the several views, the present device comprises a suitable housing within which there is a motor driven blow-er 11 driven by an electric motor 12 and which discharges air Patented Nov. 15, 1955 through a duct 13. The air is forced through steam coil 14 to an upper part 15 of housing 10 for a purpose to be described.

The steam coils 14 are connected to a steam separator 16 by a pipe 17. A second pipe 18 having a lower perforated portion 19, also connects to the steam separator 16. A steam control valve 20 is interposed in the pipe 18 and is controlled by a foot pedal 21 through a pair of links 22 and 23. Preheater tubes 24 and 25 are also connected to the steam separator and terminate in a U- shaped portion 26. The preheater tubes prevent condensation and as seen in Figure 3, the perforated pipe 19 is positioned between the legs of the U-shaped portion.

As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the upper part 15 of the housing 10 opens downwardly and attached to the lower edge of section 15 is a circular supporting rim 27. Extending inwardly from the rim 27 and supported thereby is a spider bracket comprising four channel members 28, 29, 30 and 31 and a centrally disposed steam tube assembly 32. The tube assembly 32 is perforated and receives the perforated pipe portion 19 and the U-shaped portion 26.

As seen in Figure 4, the channel member 28 is C-shaped in cross section and receives a T-shaped slide member 33. Each of the remaining channel members 29, 30 and 31 are similarly constructed and receive similar slide members 33. To each of the rear slide members receivable in channel members 29 and 30, are secured perforated elements 34 for a purpose to be described. To each of the front slide members, is secured a press plate 35 which are in the form of perforated arcuate plates. The rear support elements are fixedly secured to the respective slide members 33 whereas the front press plates 35 are swivelly mounted to the slide members 33 to permit adjustment to the pleated area of the trouser tops. As seen in Figures 3 and 4, the press plate 35 includes an L-shaped bracket 36, the upper leg of which is swivelly connected to the rear end of the slide member 33 by a bolt 37. Brace members 38 extend from the press plate 35 to bolt 37 and with bracket 36 serve to support the press plate 35. Tension spring 39 holds the press plate assembly in place when positioned over the pleated area of the trousers.

To each of the press plates 35, there is secured a tube 40 upon which is mounted a slidable tube 41 normally urged against the press plate 35 by a spring 42, the ends of which are connected to the outer end of tube 41 and press plate 35 respectively. A pivoted latch member 43 is mounted on the tube 41 and cooperates with an opening 44 in tube 40 to hold the tube 41 in open extended position. An outer perforated arcuate press plate 45, complementary to press plate 35, is supported on the outer slidable tube 41 and when the latch member is in inoperative position, the outer press plate 45 is urged against the press plate 35.

The slide members 33 are simultaneously movable and are remotely controlled by a foot pedal 46 operating through a series of links 47, 48 and 49, by a slidable collar 56 and links 51. The collar 50 is secured to the lower ends of links 49 and is slidably mounted on tube assembly 32. The links 51 are disposed about the collar 50 and pivotally connect the collar to the support elements 34 and the press plates 35. The collar is normally urged upwardly and in turn the elements 34 and press plates 35 urged outwardly by spring member 52. Spring member 52 automatically adjusts the mechanism to the size of the trouser top placed thereon, when foot pedal 46 is released.

Referring to Figure 5, numeral 53 indicates a porous cloth bag in the generalshape of the upper portion of a pair of trousers. Adjacent the upper edge of the bag four openings 54 are provided which receive wire slide v members 55 mounted on the supporting rim 27. As seen in Figure 5, the lower portion of the bag 53 is provided with a lining 56 to form a heavier lower portion construction thereby restricting the steam to the upper portion of the trousers. Numeral 57 denotes a tray for supporting the legs of the trousers during the topping operation.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

Referring to Figure l, depressing of pedal 45, through links 47, 48 and 49, moves the sliding collar 50 downward with the rods $1 pulling the press plates 35 and rear supports 34 to the center of the mechanism. The bag 53 which embraces the press plates 35 and rear supports 34, is supported on the Wire slides o5, contracts and expands with the mechanism. With the mechanism in the contracted position, the trousers, closed at the fly, are placed in position over the bag. The pedal 46 is then released and the spring 52 causes the mechanism to expand automatically to the size of the trouser top and hold same in taut condition. It will be understood that during the aforesaid operation, the plates 45 are held in a retracted position by latch member 43 positioned in opening 44. The pleats are then laid and the latch member released bringing the plates 45 against the pleated area for finishing. Foot pedal 21 is then depressed and through links 22 and 23 opens steam valve 20, permitting steam to enter bag 53 and trousers mounted thereon, through tube 19 which is heated by steam tubes 24 and 25 to precent condensation. The preheater tubes 24 and 25 are connected to steam separator 16 as is also steam valve and steam coil lid. The steam is baffled inside the perforated cylinder 32, before entering the bag 53. After a few seconds of steaming, the blower 11 is turned on, forcing air through steam coil 14, which heats the air to dry and set the trousers as the force of the air extends the trousers.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that an improved method and apparatus is provided which is highly advantageous over the pressing methods and machines now in general use. With the aforesaid machine, an operator may finish a trouser top in a short length of time and through a minimum amount of work with better results. While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the improved machine, it will be understood that minor changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A machine for finishing the top portion of trousers comprising a frame member having a plurality of reciprocable slide members mounted thereon, a foraminous bag carried by said frame member and surrounding said reciprocable slide members, means for moving the slide members outwardly to expand the bag member into engagement with the inner surface of the trousers top, a perforated tube assembly supported by said frame member and centrally disposed thereof, means for supplying steam to said tube assembly, and means supplying heated dry air to the trousers top.

2. A machine as described in claim 1, said bag being of double thickness at its bottom whereby to restrict the steam to the upper portion of the bag.

3. A machine for finishing the top portion of trousers comprising a frame member having a plurality of recip rocable slide members mounted thereon, plates depending from said slide members, said plates being perforated, means for moving the slide members outwardly into engagement with the inner surface of the trouser top, reciprocable press plates mounted on the front perforated plates for inward movement against said perforated plates, a depending, perforated tube assembly supported by said frame member and disposed centrally thereof, means for supplying steam to said tube assembly, and means directmg heated dry air to the top portion of the trousers to complete the finishing operation.

4. machine for finishing the top portion of trousers comprising a frame member having a plurality of reciprocable slide members mounted thereon, a depending, per-- forated tube assembly supported by said frame member and disposed centrally thereof, means slidably mounted on said tube assembly and connected to said slide members for moving said members outwardly into engagement with the inner surface of the trouser top, said means being operated by a foot pedal at the lower portion of the machine, means for supplying steam to said tube assembly, and means for supplying heated dry air to the top portion of the trousers to complete the finishing operation.

5. A machine for finishing the top of trousers comprising a frame member having a plurality of reciprocable slide members mounted thereon, means for moving the slide members outwardly to engage the inner surface of the trousers top, a depending perforated tube assembly supported by the frame member and disposed centrally thereof, means for supplying steam to said tube assembly, said means being operated from a foot pedal supported at the lower portion of the machine, and means supplying heated dry air to the top portion of the trousers to complete the finishing operation.

6. A machine for finishing the top portion of trousers comprising a frame member having a plurality of reciprocable slide members mounted thereon, plates depending from said slide members, said plates being perforated, a foraminous bag carried by said frame member and surrounding said slide members and plates, means for moving the slide members outwardly to expand the bag member into engagement with the inner surface of the trouser top, reciprocable press plates mounted on the perforated plates for inward movement against the trouser pleats, a perforated tube assembly supported by said frame member and centrally disposed thereof, means for supplying steam to said tube assembly, and means supplying heated dry air to the top portion of the trousers to complete the finishing operation.

7. A machine for finishing the top portion of trousers comprising a frame member having a plurality of reciprocable slide members mounted thereon, plates depending from said slide members, said plates being perforated, a foraminous bag carried by said frame member and surrounding said slide members and plates, a depending perforated tube assembly supported by said frame member and centrally disposed thereof, means slidably mounted on said tube assembly and connected to said slide members for moving the slide members outwardly to expand the bag member into engagement with the inner surface of the trousers top, reciprocable press plates mounted on the front perforated plates for inward movement against the trouser pleats, means for supplying steam to the tube assembly, and means supplying heated dry air to the top portion of the trousers to complete the finishing operation.

8. A machine for finishing the top of trousers comprising a frame member having a plurality of reciprocable slide members mounted thereon, plates depending from said slide members, said plates being perforated, a foraminous bag carried by said frame member and surrounding said slide members and plates, at depending perforated tube assembly supported by said frame member and centrally disposed thereof, means slidably mounted on said tube assembly and connected to said slide members for moving the slide members outwardly to expand the bag member into engagement with the inner surface of the trouser top, reciprocable press plates mounted on the front perforated plates for inward movement against the trouser pleats, means for supplying steam to the tube assembly, said means being operated from a foot pedal supported at the lower portion of the machine, and means supplying heated dry air to the top portion of the trousers to complete the finishing operation.

9. A machine for finishing the top portion of trousers comprising a frame member having a plurality of reciprocable slide members mounted thereon, plates depending from said slide members, said plates being perforated, a foraminous bag carried by said frame member and surrounding said slide members and plates, at depending 5 6 perforated tube assembly supported by said frame memand means supplying heated dry air to the top portion of bet and centrally disposed thereof, means slidably the trousers, said means being operated by a lever conmounted on said tube assembly and connected to said necting toaswitch on the electric motor. slide members for moving the slide members outwardly to expand the bag member into engagement with the inner 5 References Cited in the file Of this Patent surface of the trousers top, reciprocable press plates UNITED STATES PATENTS mounted on the front perforated plates for inward movement against the trouser pleats, means for supplying steam i gg g g 33 to the tube assembly, said means being operated from a foot pedal supported at the lower end of the machine, 10 2658649 Rosenthal 1953 

